Week 4: May 26-50, 2018

Crew 2: Ridge Pole Mountain Rehab

working with Nantahala Hiking Club

click here for the full photo album

With the end of May, the first third of the 2018 Konnarock season officially draws to a close!  Rest assured, this milestone was reached in spectacular fashion by Crew 2, as they journeyed back to the Southern Nantahala Wilderness, NC for a second week on the muddy slopes of Ridge Pole Mountain.  It just so happened that Week 4 corresponded with the northbound fury of Tropical Storm Alberto.  While Week 3 on Ridge Pole seemed rainy and muddy, it may as well have occurred in a desert in comparison to this wet and wild crew week. 

The project for Week 4 was a direct continuation of the work that was started on Week 3 - rehabilitating a degraded section where the trail had crept down and eroded along a stretch of sloping bedrock.  In order to prevent continued degradation, the goal was to build a combination of rock cribbing and rock steps to shore up the trail and prevent further erosion - while also making the traverse safer for hikers. 

The forecast looked grim from the outset, but none could have foretold just how constant the precipitation would be.  The rain wasted no time in starting during the drive down from Base Camp, but mercifully it slowed down to a near complete stop during the dicey truck ride on the soggy Forest Service road to reach the camping spot.  As soon as the crew arrive at the site, the rain began, and it scarcely stopped again the remainder of the trip (although the degree of rainfall did vary).  Some crew members were soaked merely from camp setup tasks like pitching tents and digging the privy.

The real challenges began with the start of the work days.  Fortunately the rain was light the first work day, but the trail was slick and muddy and numerous seeps in the sloping bedrock ensured that any holes dug would quickly fill with murky water.  Despite the adverse conditions, Crew 2 leapt into action with a flurry of crushing rock, carrying rock, and work on installing steps and cribbing.  

The Nantahala Hiking Club provided fantastic support to the crew in the form of Rich and Debbie, who came out to work with the Konnarock members during the first work day.  These two club members spent an entire day operating the Griphoist winch to quarry and drag massive rocks up from the downhill side of the trail.  By the end of the day, a huge pile of building materials had been amassed.  Without this valuable assistance, the crew would surely not have accomplished as much as they eventually did. 

With work days 2 and 3, construction on the crib/staircase continued, made difficult by the sloping bedrock below.  The rain, which had been tolerable the first day, by this point had developed into a steady downpour that never ceased.  The wind had also picked up, and a thick fog enveloped the work site.  Essentially, Crew 2 was working inside a cloud at around 4500 feet.  

These conditions facilitated some interesting building experiences such as underwater rock-chiseling, as crew members struggled to chip away at the bedrock at the bottom of water-filled holes.  

Transporting heavy rocks using nets had to be done with extreme caution, as the tread surface had become exceedingly slippery.  At a certain point, even the best rain gear soaks through in these conditions, and that was definitely the case here.  Boots sloshed full of water and leather gloves became muddy, slimy, and quite frankly disgusting.  Working hard proved to be the most effective way to stay warm.  Soggy, weary, but definitely not defeated, Crew 2 worked full days in the rain to complete as much work as possible.

By the third and final work day, considerable progress had been made, thanks to a rotating team of step builders and a supporting cast of crew members who constantly smashed rock into gravelly crush while others hunted for material.  Starting yet another day in the pouring rain proved to be psychologically taxing, but there was no avoiding the work since all the tools remained on top of the mountain and had to be retrieved no matter what.  Once up at the work site, the crew ended up working just the same as before.  

At a certain point, when you reach a level of wetness that can’t really be surpassed, it doesn’t really matter any more.  It might as well be swimming.  An additional morale booster was provided in the form of a text message from San Ho of the Nantahala Hiking Club, promising hot showers, home-cooked dinner, and  and dry refuge for the night at the end of the day.  With this heavenly future in mind, the rain-drenched members of Crew 2 gave one final push, working just as hard as ever.  Bag after bag of crush was dumped into the emerging structure, and by 3pm on the third day, the staircase was complete - surpassing the expectations of even the crew leaders themselves! 

With victory achieved, it was still too early to claim Mission Accomplished.  A brutal 1.75 mile tool carry down to the campsite, in pouring rain, provided the first of several final ordeals.  Carrying heavy tools including rock bars, sledgehammers, and Griphoist components (with only 7 crew members to do it) was no easy task.  Upon reaching camp, the crew set about breaking down camp in the rain and packing the truck to the brim with personal and group gear.  At this point, after roughly 3 days of constant rainfall, the conditions on the Forest Service road had deteriorated considerably, and many crew members expressed concern that the truck might not be able to make it out without getting stuck.  Nevertheless, there was nothing to do but try.  Piling into the truck at last, the crew buckled up and held on tight for a wild ride like none other.  The energy, excitement, and tension in the 4x4 truck was palpable as the engine roared and the vehicle bumped and bounced its way down the road - successfully reaching the gate without getting stuck a single time!  The Konnarock van, however, which had been parked at the gate, required a helpful push from a volunteer before it was able to gain enough traction to move. 

Dripping wet and soaked through, the victorious Konnarock crew arrived at the home of San Ho and Gwen to find hospitality beyond anything they could have expected.  Hot showers, and dry clothes preceded a multiple course dinner and a chocolate raspberry cheesecake baked by NHC’s own Paul.  The crew members were then invited to sleep in several guest rooms and lofts in the spacious house.  Coffee, fruit, and muffins greeted the team in the morning.  It all seemed too good to be true - and yet this is perhaps just a good indicator of the kind of appreciation and hospitality which a club like NHC can show people who choose to spend their time improving the A.T. for all to enjoy. 

With spirits and bodies rested and warmed, Crew 2 departed the final morning to head back to Base Camp.  The trip wouldn’t be complete, however, without one more stop at the famous Scratch Pizza in Johnson City, TN for some stone-oven, wood-fired Trust Pizzas.  After filling their stomachs once again, the crew eventually completed the journey back to Sugar Grove, VA and proceeded to unpack and clean tools and gear - with plenty of stories to share!

This week really epitomized the spirit of volunteerism that characterizes the A.T. This week’s volunteers cannot be thanked enough for their hard work and good attitudes throughout a trying work experience that could very accurately be deemed miserable by any reasonable person.  Likewise, the generosity and support of the Nantahala Hiking Club was on full display this week, with both work support in the field and the glorious hospitality of the last night.  Many thanks to all who participated in this project week.  Thanks as always to the Camp Coordinators - Janet with her legendary Base Camp dinners and Becky with some fantastic field meals (“Taco Dress Up” will go down in history).  With Week 4 complete, the Konnarock Crew Staff will take a much-appreciated 5-day break and resume the trail construction adventures afterwards.  Stay tuned for the continuing 2018 escapades of Crew 2 next time in an all-new project and an all-new state: Georgia!  Until then, if you can, take a moment and simply appreciate how great a phenomenon it is to be dry. 

--Josh Reynolds, Assistant Crew Leader